Ferry Weertman of the Netherlands celebrates after he won the gold medal in men's open water 10km final of FINA Swimming World Championships 2017 in Balatonfured, 124 kms southwest of Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, July 18, 2017. (Zsolt Szigetvary/MTI via AP)

Gold medal winning Ferry Weertman, center, of the Netherlands, silver medal winner Jordan Wilimovsky, left, of the US and bronze medal winner Marc-Antoine Olivier of France pose on the podium during the medal ceremony of men's open water 10km final of the Swimming World Championships 2017 in Balatonfured, 124 kms southwest of Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, July 18, 2017. (Zsolt Szigetvary/MTI via AP)

Silver medal winning Jordan Wilimovsky of the US poses on the podium during the medal ceremony of men's open water 10km final of the Swimming World Championships 2017 in Balatonfured, 124 kms southwest of Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, July 18, 2017. (Zsolt Szigetvary/MTI via AP)

Silver medal winning Jordan Wilimovsky of the US waves on the podium during the medal ceremony of men's open water 10km final of the Swimming World Championships 2017 in Balatonfured, 124 kms southwest of Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, July 18, 2017. (Zsolt Szigetvary/MTI via AP)

Ferry Weertman of the Netherlands celebrates after he won the gold medal in the men's open water 10km final of FINA Swimming World Championships 2017 in Balatonfured, 124 kms southwest of Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, July 18, 2017. (Zsolt Szigetvary/MTI via AP)

Weertman edges Wilimovsky for 10K open water title at worlds

By CIARAN FAHEY

Jul. 18, 2017

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — After swimming for almost two hours in open water, Olympic champion Ferry Weertman edged defending champion Jordan Wilimovsky by one tenth of a second for the 10-kilometer title at the world championships on Tuesday.

Weertman earned the Netherlands' first medal of the championships, on Lake Balaton, about 130 kilometers (80 miles) southwest of Budapest.

"I just love swimming ... I haven't stopped for a moment, and this hard work paid off," said the 25-year-old Weertman, who began swimming at age 6 because his brother made it look like fun.

Wilimovsky had no regrets, despite the closest of finishes.

"I cannot complain about my swim. I tried everything I could. There are plenty of very good swimmers in the 10k, so the silver medal is all right," the American said.

Marc-Antoine Olivier of France, who won the 5K on Saturday, was 0.70 seconds behind for bronze. He became the first Frenchman to win more than one medal in open water swimming at the worlds.

Neither Weertman nor Wilimovsky raced the 5K.

In Budapest, Russia won its sixth straight women's team technical synchronized swimming title for its fourth gold medal of the championships.

The team of Maria Shurochkina, Vlada Chigireva, Veronika Kalinina, Daria Bayandina, Anastasia Bayandina, Maryna Goliadkina, Darina Valitova, and Polina Komar performed last and maintained the team's unbeaten record in the event with 96.0109 points.

"There is no limit to perfection," said Chigireva, one of only two swimmers alongside Shurochkina left from the team that won Olympic gold in 2016.

Shurochkina said the new members "took the challenge and they really mingled with us, they are now part of the team."